Press Digest: British Business - March 26

Mr Bricolage SA

26/03/2015 01:16

March 26 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on 
the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not 
verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. 
     
     
    The Times 
     
    DANGER OF GREXIT HAS RISEN, OSBORNE WARNS 
     
    The risk of an accidental but devastating Greek exit from 
the eurozone has increased in recent days because of the 
"palpable ill-will" between the two sides, British finance 
minister George Osborne warned. (http://thetim.es/1Na3JCT) 
     
    CBI BOSS DEMANDS QUICKFIRE TRANSATLANTIC TRADE DEAL 
     
    The head of the CBI has urged negotiators of what could be a 
game-changing trade deal between Europe and the United States to 
get the treaty signed before a possible British referendum on 
European Union membership scuppers the whole idea. (http://thetim.es/1Ca0Pce) 
     
    The Guardian 
     
    JEREMY CLARKSON COULD FACE POLICE INVESTIGATION AFTER BBC 
DISMISSAL 
     
    Jeremy Clarkson could face a police investigation into the 
unprovoked attack that left a colleague bleeding and cost the 
Top Gear presenter his job, bringing an end to a BBC career that 
spanned four decades. The BBC director general, Tony Hall, said 
"with great regret" he decided not to renew Clarkson's contract, 
saying the presenter had "crossed a line" which left him with no 
alternative. (http://bit.ly/1EGbMAE) 
         
    CAMERON APOLOGISES TO THOSE INFECTED WITH HEPATITIS C AND 
HIV 30 YEARS AGO 
     
    Ministers from the UK and Scottish governments have 
apologised and pledged extra funding after it emerged that more 
than 3,000 people were infected by hepatitis C and HIV via 
contaminated blood more than 30 years ago. The prime minister 
promised to release 25 million pounds ($37.19 million) in 
financial support for the victims immediately, and to increase 
that after the election. (http://bit.ly/1xzlbgu) 
     
    The Telegraph 
     
    BRITAIN'S MOTOR INDUSTRY GETS 650 MILLION POUNDS BOOST 
     
    Britain's motor industry is to receive a 650 million pounds 
boost as a pair of foreign investors pump money into the UK's 
booming automotive sector. Jaguar Land Rover is to invest 400 
million pounds in a new engine plant, equipment and the 
expansion of its design centre and China's Zhejiang Geely Group 
is to spend 250 million pounds on a new factory for the London 
Taxi Company. (http://bit.ly/1HHW0M6) 
     
    HEINZ TO MERGE WITH KRAFT TO CREATE U.S. FOOD GIANT 
     
    Kraft Foods Group Ltd  KRFT.O  has agreed a $100 billion 
merger with H.J. Heinz Co  HJHC.UL  to create the fifth-biggest 
food company in the world. The deal has been masterminded by 
Heinz's wealthy owners, Brazilian private equity firm 3G Capital 
and Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway  BRKa.N . (http://bit.ly/1xgb9k4) 
     
    Sky News 
     
    EX-CENTRICA CHIEF TO HAND BONUS TO CHARITY 
     
    The former boss of Centrica Plc  CNA.L , Britain's biggest 
energy supplier, is to hand "a substantial portion" of his 
annual bonus to charity for the second successive year. Sam 
Laidlaw, who stepped down as chief executive of the parent 
company of British Gas at the end of December, has decided to 
donate part of an award of approximately 500,000 pounds to 
voluntary causes. (http://bit.ly/1CbLM1V) 
     
    HAVERSHAM DRIVES OFF WITH 1.2 BILLION POUNDS CAR DEALER 
     
    Britain's biggest seller of secondhand cars is to reverse 
onto the London stock market in a 1.2 billion pounds deal that 
could be announced within hours. British Car Auctions Ltd 
 BCRAU.UL  is in the final stages of talks about an agreement to 
be acquired by Haversham Holdings Plc  HAVH.L , a vehicle set up 
to buy companies in the automotive sector. (http://bit.ly/1HHYiuB) 
     
    The Independent 
     
    B&Q OWNER KINGFISHER NOT QUITE MANAGING TO DO IT FOR ITSELF 
AS MR BRICOLAGE TAKEOVER STALLS 
     
    Kingfisher Plc  KGF.L , the DIY company behind B&Q, is 
struggling to complete its takeover of French rival Mr Bricolage 
SA  MBRI.PA  after bosses admitted the current owners may not 
want to sell. Kingfisher already trades in France under the 
Castorama brand and has been in talks to buy its rival since 
April 2014, but the deal could fall apart after the majority of 
the Mr Bricolage said they had "reservations". (http://ind.pn/18Yyrzz) 
     
    LABOUR WOULD END INDEFINITE DETENTION OF REFUGEES 
     
    The indefinite detention of asylum-seekers and migrants 
would be ended by a Labour government, the party will announce 
today. Yvette Cooper, the shadow Home Secretary, will say that 
Labour would fix a time limit following criticism that people in 
the asylum and immigration system have been locked up for up to 
four years. (http://ind.pn/1CQbsmx) 
 
($1 = 0.6723 pounds) 
 
($1 = 0.9121 euros) 
 
 (Compiled by Zara Mascarenhas in Bengaluru) 
 ((zara.mascarenhas@thomsonreuters.com; within U.S. +1 646 223 
8780, outside U.S. +91 80 6749 8144; Reuters Messaging: 
zara.mascarenhas.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: BRITAIN PRESS/BUSINESS